Katanga case: Trial Chamber II to issue order for reparations to victims on 24 March 2017

ICC-CPI-20170222-MA209

On 22 February 2017, Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC) scheduled the delivery of the order for reparations to victims in the case
The Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga for 24 March 2017 at 10:00 (The Hague local time). This order will be delivered at a public hearing in Courtroom I at the seat of the Court in The Hague (Netherlands) in the presence of the Common legal representative of the victims, Mr Katanga's Defence team and the Trust Fund for Victims.

The Chamber has also directed the ICC Registry to establish, as far as possible, a video link between the Makala Prison in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Courtroom I in order to allow Mr Katanga to attend the delivery of the order. The Registry is also directed, as far as possible, to establish a video link between Bunia (DRC) and Courtroom I, in order to allow as many interested persons as possible who filed applications for reparation, to attend the delivery of the order.

Background: At the end of a trial, the ICC Trial Chamber may order reparations to the victims of the convicted person's crimes. Reparations may take different forms and can be awarded on an individual or collective basis, depending on the decision of the Chamber and what is the most appropriate for the victims in the particular case. If the convicted person does not have sufficient resources to do so, the Trust Fund for Victims may assist in the implementation of the reparations, within the limits of its resources.

Germain Katanga was sentenced, on 23 May 2014, to a total of 12 years' imprisonment after being found guilty, as an accessory, of one count of crimes against humanity (murder) and four counts of war crimes (murder, attacking a civilian population, destruction of property and pillaging) committed on 24 February 2003 during the attack on the village of Bogoro, in the Ituri district of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The time spent by Mr Katanga in detention prior to being convicted was deducted from the sentence imposed. On 13 November 2015, three Judges of the Appeals Chamber reviewed Germain Katanga's sentence and
decided to reduce it. On 19 December 2015, Germain Katanga was transferred to a DRC prison to serve his sentence, which he completed on 18 January 2016. Mr Katanga remains in a prison in the DRC due to national judicial proceedings against him relating to other alleged crimes.

For further information, please contact Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-9152 or +31 (0)6 46448938 or by e-mail at: [email protected]